MAKE FOR THE MED

Duration

22 days

Paella, anyone? Head south from Paris to start your travels along the Med in Valencia, the home of Spain’s most popular dish, and work your way around to Italy along Europe’s most celebrated stretch of coastline. Further food for thought will be provided by the modernist marvels of Santiago Calatrava in Valencia and the fantastical creations of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, your next port of call. There are beaches and bars aplenty in the capital of Catalonia; another goal could be the Camp Nou football stadium.

Within striking distance of the Pyrenees and with historic links to the Roman empire and the Kingdom of Mallorca, Perpignan is a lovely spot to begin a journey along the French stretch of the coast. Soak up history, enjoy fabulous food and wine, and head to the beach. Continue on to Marseille, a boisterous sort of place with the “brawling beat of a big port city”, according to Telegraph Travel’s Anthony Peregrine. Get a hit of that before embarking on the intoxicating ride to the Côte d’Azur and Nice, Cannes and Monaco. Continue on round to the Italian resort of Alassio and on to Genoa before returning to the UK via Turin.

Go the extra mile 35 miles inland from Perpignan, climb aboard Le Petit Train Jaune (the Little Yellow Train) for a trip from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol, on one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. With open-air carriages and dramatic scenery, it doesn’t get much better than this. From £19 one-way (letrainjaune.fr)

The details A global pass covering 22 consecutive days (£430) should be fine

Shoot the breeze on the Gornergrat Bahn, Switzerland